Apparatus and method for cutting tapes and removing the liner therefrom



May .19, 1964 H. T. DE MAN 3,133,495 APPARATUS AND METHOD PoR CUTTING TAPEs AND REMovING THE LINER THEREFROM March 5, 1962 Filed AVEHMH ...NM-HMH ...m--..MHHMH WHMH j d lM United States Patent This invention generally relates to marking or embossing tools for applying indicia on a strip of tape-like material, and is more particularly directed towards a mechanism for transversely cutting a length of marked or embossed tape from the strip in such a manner as to facilitate removal of the protective liner or backing from the cut tape.

In order to provide a convenient method of identifying l a wide variety of objects, the use of embossing tools of the general type described in U.S. Patent No. 2,275,670 has become widespread. Such a tool is adapted to receive a roll of strip or tape which may be suitably marked, preferably by embossing, as the strip advances through the tool. The strip may be formed of metal, plastic or other material, and is conventionally provided with an adhesive backing so that after embossing thereof, the marked tape may be conveniently secured to the object being identified by the tape label.

The provision of the adhesive presents a problem in that if the adhesive was exposed, difliculty would be encountered in removing the tape from the coiled tape roll, and additional difficulty would be presented in feeding the tape through the tool and effecting embossment thereof.

Accordingly, where the tape is provided with an adhesive backing, it is customary to utilize a protective liner for the adhesive. Such a liner may be formed of a thin sheet of polyethylene or other material having a low affinity for the adhesive. The lined tape may then be readily coiled into rolled form, advanced through the tool, and cut oif after the desired indicia has been embossed or otherwise marked, without difficulty.

While the use of such a protective liner overcomes the diticulties present where no liner is provided, a new problem has been developed thereby, namely, that of removing the liner from the cut tape so as to expose the adhesive and permit the marked tape or label to be attached to an object. Since the liner is coeXtensive with the cut tape, it has heretofore been necessary to manually pry a corner of the liner away from the adhesive with a finger nail or the like, until the liner could be grasped, and then complete the removal thereof.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for facilitating the removal of a protective liner from an adhesive backed tape.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate such a mechanism in a tape cut-off apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device and method as above described in which a severed tape strip will be provided with a tab which may be manually grasped, and by means of which the liner may be removed from the tape.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming 'part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing: FIGURE l is a cross-sectional side elevation view of ice an embossing tool provided with the cut-off mechanism of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 3 3 of FIGURE 1, and on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is another cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 5 5 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 6 6 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a severed embossed tape strip or label and indicating the manner in which the protective liner may be removed.

The mechanism of the present invention is illustrated in the drawing in association with an embossing tool and tape cut-olf of the type disclosed in the copending application of Robert W. Sanders and Louis I Vironda, Serial yNo. 168,034, led January 23, 1962, now Patent No.

3,091,319, entitled Tape Marking Tool and Cut-Off Mechanism, commonly owned by the assignee of the instant application. Such a tool is provided with an elongated body member 12 and a handle member 13 pivotally attached thereto. A strip 14 of material to be embossed is adapted to be carried by the member 12 for longitudinal movement thereon, the strip constituting one end of a roll 16 disposed in a magazine 17 mounted adjacent the rear end of the body. The strip 14, as shown in FIGURE 7, includes a metal or plastic tape 21 having an upper surface 22 which bears an embossment or other marking 23, a lower surface coated with an adhesive 24, and a protective liner 26 for the adhesive, formed of polyethylene or the like.

The embossed indicia is provided on strip 14 by passing the same through suitable embossing dies 28 carried by the body 12, the embossing taking place when the handle 13 is squeezed towards the body. More particularly, a stud 29 on handle 13 transmits embossing pressure to a slidable die punching element 31 causing the dies to emboss the strip. The strip 14 is advanced with each embossing operation by providing a strip feed roll 32, a ratchet wheel 33 and a handle actuated pawl 34. No further explanation of the embossing or feeding operation is deemed necessary, since reference may be made to U.S. Patents Nos. 2,275,670 and 3,006,451 for added constructional and operational details.

In accordance with conventional embossing systems, after the tape strip 14 has been embossed with the desired indicia, the forward end portion 36 thereof is severed from the remaining portion of the strip to provide a label 37. While a variety of types of cut-off mechanisms have been provided, they all have the common characteristic of providing a generally transverse cut through the strip, such as the cut line 38 shown in FIGURE 7. With such a cut, there exists the previously discussed difficulty of removing the protective liner 26 from the tape 21 so as to expose the adhesive 24 on the latter.

The cut-olf system employed in the present invention overcomes this defect by providing a compound cutting action. First, a complete severance is provided, such as the cut 3S, which separates the label 37 from the remaining portion of the strip. Second, a transverse slit 39 is provided on the label parallel and adjacent to cut 38, the slit extending completely through the tape 21, while leaving the liner 26 intact. The portion of the label between the cut line 3S and slit line 39 defines a tab 41 which may be easily grasped in one hand, and by holding the portion of the label adjacent the tab with the other hand, the user may tear the tab downwardly as indicated in FIGURE 7, and thereby remove the entire liner with the tab from the remaining tape portion.

While a variety of devices could be utilized to provide the strip cut-off 38, the type disclosed in the aforementioned Sanders et al. copending application is herein illustrated. The combination cutter and slitter is provided as a unit carried at the forward end of the body 12, the latter being provided with a downturned flange 43 whose end terminates above the strip 14 as it emerges from the tool. The lower surface of the strip, after leaving the embossing dies, is supported on a platform d4, and as will be presently made clear, a strip guide in the form of a leaf spring 46, is utilized in order to insure proper feeding of the strip to and through the cutter and slitter.

Attached to the body ange 43 is a spacer t8 having a stud 49 adapted to seat in a suitable aperture provided in the flange, the spacer substantially completely covering the flange and secured thereto by means of screws 51. The lower surface of the spacer is provided with a forwardly projecting lip 52. The screws 51 are utilized to likewise secure a backup plate 53 to the tool handle, such plate being of generally rectangular form and substantially completely overlying the front end of the tool. Plate 53 is provided with a transverse slot 5d through which the strip 14 may pass with a vertical slot 56 extending upwardly from the central portion of slot 54. An additional vertical slot 57 is provided at the central lower end portion of the plate. As noted in FIGURES 4 and 6, the upper and lower edges 58 and 59 of slot 54 are bevelled or tapered to facilitate the strip shearing action resently to be described. The guide spring 46 has a bent portion secured to the rear surface of the plate.

Slidably carried on the front surface of plate 53 is a strip cut-off knife 61, the latter being formed as a generally rectangular plate and provided with a transversely inclined slot 62, having a sharpened edge oil, through which the strip 14 passes. A rectangular aperture 63 is provided on blade 61 in registry with the backup plate slot 57, and vertically elongated apertures 64 are also provided in registry with circular apertures 66 on plate 53. Additional apertures 67 are provided on the upper portion of the blade and a central tapped screw-receiving aperture 63 iS disposed in between the apertures 67.

As will be understood, blade 61 is capable of vertical sliding movement against plate 53, and with the strip 14 extending through the slots d and 62 of the plate and knife, a shearing action is effected by the coaction of the sharpened edge 60 against the lower edge 59 of the plate.

Secured to the front surface of blade 61, above the slot 62 thereof, is a spacer '71, having rearwardly directed projections 72 seated in blade apertures 67 and similar forwardly directed projections adapted to seat in apertures '73 of a semi cut-off blade 74. The latter is of generally rectangular form and provided with a central screw-receiving aperture 76 and a sharpened lower edge 77 normally positioned above the level of strip 14. A screw 78 secures blade 74, spacer 71 and blade 61 together for unitary movement, the end of the screw extending into the vertical slot S6 of the backup plate 53.

An anvil 81 is positioned below the semi cut-olf blade 74, such anvil being of generally rectangular form and being spaced from knife 61 by a suitable spring washer 82. Rivets 83 pass through the anvil, washer and apertures 66 of plate 53 as well as through the elongated apertures 64 of the knife 61 so that the latter, while a part of the riveted assembly may move relative to the remaining parts of the assembly to the extent of the length of apertures 64.

The upper edge S4 of the anvile 81 is provided with a notch or slot S6 of sufiicient width to receive the strip 14, such notch having a lesser transverse extent than the width of the semi cut-off blade '74. The depth of the notch is of critical importance since as the blade 74 moves downwardly with the main cut-off blade 61, the semi cut-off blade '74, in cooperation with the anvil, will only penetrate the portion of the strip extending from the notch above the edge Se. Accordingly, if the strip liner is, for example, .0035 inch thick, the slot 86 is provided with a depth of about .094 or .O05 inch, so that the thicker tape 22 will be substantially severed without danger of cutting into the liner.

in order to provide for appropriate blade movement, an actuating lever S7 is utilized, such lever being pivoted to the body 12 by a pin S8 and having a forwardly directed tip 39 which passes through the slot 5'7 of the backup plate 53 and engages the aperture 63 of knife 61. Thus, as the lever is rocked about its pivot 88, the knife 61 will move downwardly as indicated in dotted lines in FiGURE 4 until the strip is completely severed. Likewise, the semi cut-off blade will move downwardly until its lower edge contacts the anvil 81 effecting the transverse slit 39 through the tape alone.

The lever may be actuated as described in said copending Sanders et al. application. Briey, a spring loaded control member 91 is carried by handle 13 and is adapted to be laterally displaced by a spring loaded push button 92. Normally, member 91 is disposed between the stud 29 and punch member 31 to effect embossing. Upon depression of button 92, member 91 is displaced so as to avoid actuation of the dies upon squeezing of the handle, and a portion 93 of the member moves into operative engagement with lever 37.

From the foregoing description, it should be clear, that with a single operation, namely, depression of button 92, and squeezing of the handle, the strip will be completely severed to provide the label 37, and at the saine time, the label will be provided with a tab d1 so that a short length of tape and the entire liner 26 may be readily removed from the label so as to expose the adhesive 24 thereon.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of producing marked self-sticking labels from a continuous strip of composite material having a tape layer, an adhesive on the under surface of said tape layer, and a protective liner removably adhered to said adhesive layer, which comprises applying the marked indicia to the upper surface of said strip, transversely cutting through the entire strip intermediate the marked portion thereof and the remaining portion of the strip to provide a label, and simultaneously transversely cutting through the label inwardly of the first mentioned cut to a depth no greater than through the tape and adhesive whereby a tape tab will be provided adjacent an end of the cut label with such tab being attached to the entire liner of the label for facilitating stripping of the liner from the tape and exposing the adhesive thereon.

2. In a device for cutting and slitting a at strip of composite material having a tape layer, an adhesive layer, and a protective liner removably attached to said adhesive layer; the combination comprising means for supporting said strip, a cutter blade with a cutting edge disposed adjacent said strip, said blade being movable from a first position overlying said strip to a second cutting position entirely through said strip, a slitter blade operatively connected to said cutter blade and having an edge lying in a plane parallel to said tape, and being in spaced relationship to the cutting edge of the cutting blade, stop means positioned adjacent said liner in opposed relation to said slitter blade, said slitter blade being movable from a rst position overlying said strip to a second slitting position against said stop means whereby the entire width of said strip will be slit to a depth no greater than through said tape l-ayer and adhesive layer, and an actuator member for moving said blades from their first positions to their respective cutting and slitting positions whereby a length of said strip will be entirely cut from the remaining portion of said strip and such length will be provided with a tab of the composite material attached to the entire protective liner for facilitating removal of the latter from the cut length.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which said cutter and slitter blades each have straight edges and are disposed in parallel relation to each other:

4. A device for cutting an embossed label from a lat strip of composite material having a tape layer, an adhesive layer, and a protective liner removably attached to said adhesive layer, the combination comprising means for supporting said strip, a cutter blade overlying said strip and having a cutting edge in confronting relation to the tape layer with the width of said edge greater than the width of said strip, actuating means for moving said blade whereby said edge will be moved relative to said strip to completely sever said label from the remaining portion of the strip, a slitter blade disposed forwardly of said cutter blade and connected to said actuating means, said slitter blade having a cutting edge in confronting, parallel relation to the tape layer with the width of said edge greater than the width of said strip, an anvil underlying said strip in opposed relation to said slitter blade, said slitter blade upon operation of said actuating means moving against said anvil so as to slit the cut label through said tape layer while leaving said protective liner intact for the entire length of said label.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which each of said blades is disposed with the edge thereof extending transversely of said strip and in general parallelism with each other.

References Cited in the le of this patenty UNITED STATES PATENTS 611,238 Drinkaus Sept. 27, 1898 1,102,676 McNutt et al. July 7, 1914 1,303,221 Moore May 6, 1916 1,632,004 Hampton June 14, 1927 2,382,736 Mason Aug. 14, 1945 2,391,539 Avery Dec. 25, 1945 2,434,545 Brady et al Jan. 13, 1948 2,495,389 v Sammann Jan. 24, 1950 2,552,353 Troth et al. May 8, 1951 2,699,618 Stupell Jan. 18, 1955 2,800,097 Hurd et al. July 23, 1957 2,883,044 Kendrick Apr. 21, 1959 2,896,351 Johnson July 28, 1959 2,979,179 Anglim et al Apr. l1, 1961 2,979,840 Eastman Apr. 18, 1961 3,091,319 Sanders et al May 28, 1963 

1. A METHOD OF PRODUCING MARKED SELF-STICKING LABELS FROM A CONTINUOUS STRIP OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL HAVING A TAPE LAYER, AN ADHESIVE ON THE UNDER SURFACE OF SAID TAPE LAYER, AND A PROTECTIVE LINER REMOVABLY ADHERED TO SAID ADHESIVE LAYER, WHICH COMPRISES APPLYING THE MARKED INDICIA TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID STRIP, TRANSVERSELY CUTTING THROUGH THE ENTIRE STRIP INTERMEDIATE THE MARKED PORTION THEREOF AND THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE STRIP TO PROVIDE A LABEL, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY TRANSVERSELY CUTTING THROUGH THE LABEL INWARDLY OF THE FIRST MENTIONED CUT 